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The National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS) Expands Certification Program
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February 6, 2015 -- The National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS) has responded to the apology issued to the medical professions earlier this week by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), namely that ABIM had "gotten it wrong" when crafting its Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.
The ABIM apology detailed a number of ways that the MOC requirements will be rolled back, including the language displayed denoting certification, the suspension of the Practice Assessment, Patient Voice and Patient Safety requirements for at least two years, and a re-tooling of the certification examinations.
The full NBPAS statement can be read below, but in essence the newly-formed alternative-to-ABIM organization responded by expanding its own certification program "to most of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) non-surgical specialties" - quite an advance for an organization that is less than a month old.
As detailed in Angioplasty.Org's Editor's blog post, "Who's Sorry Now?", the reaction to ABIM's apology from professional organizations and physicians has been one of guarded praise coupled with the clear message that there is more to do.
The NBPAS agrees, calling the apology "clearly a step in the right direction," but what is also clear is the the NBPAS is moving quite swiftly in its own alternate direction.
The press release from The National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS) follows:
NBPAS responds to ABIM announcement of February 3, 2015
NBPAS opens its enrollment to American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) non-surgical specialties
February 3, 2015 -- San Diego, CA -- Today's press release by the ABIM is clearly a step in the right direction. Suspending the practice assessment and patient safety requirements of the MOC program was a good decision. Plans for a more open dialog resulting in future MOC updates are welcome. However, it must be stressed that the changes disclosed today are only a very partial, incomplete fix. The remaining MOC requirements are still onerous, not clinically relevant and too expensive – and no adjustments to the price structure has been announced. The ABIM's message today validates the discontent that has been expressed on this issue by so many.
Two weeks ago the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (www.NBPAS.org) launched an alternative continuous board certification program (at a markedly lower cost) which already has hundreds of applicants. Today, NBPAS opened its enrollment to most of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) non-surgical specialties. Life-long learning does not come in a one size fits all package. No single program will ever meet everyone's needs. NBPAS provides physician's with a much needed alternative. We encourage you to visit the website (www.NBPAS.org) and to support this less time consuming and less expensive approach.
Contact person:
Paul Teirstein, M.D.,
President, National Board of Physicians and Surgeons,
2067 North Marshall Ave.
San Diego, CA 92020
info@nbpas.org
Reported by Burt Cohen, February 6, 2015 |
